Life in threes

When I visit my local op shop I’m always on the lookout for things that come in threes. I wasn’t always this way, but kitschy things from the ‘60s and ‘70s seem to come in sets so I’ve kind of fallen back into the trend.

Here are some of my threesomes (ok – not a great word for this family-style blog, but it’ll do).

My latest acquisition – three budgies on a piece of wood

Three flying ducks on a part of the unfinished kitchen wall. They have fallen off a few times and broken, so I just keep sticking them back together again!

Three happy elephants

Salt, pepper and toothpick thingy

Three kitten angels that came out a bit blurry in this shot.

Three jar things and I have no idea what to do with them – other than let them sit on a shelf

Graciela Rodo Boulanger _ Holiday on WheelsI bought this at the op shop for $10 because I liked the three ladies on pushbikes. But once I got it home and took a good look at it I realised it’s probably worth a whole lot more than I paid for it. It was framed in the 70s and I need to have it appraised to keep my mind at ease that it’s not an original (or I’ll have to add it to my home contents insurance!) 😀

You op-shop finds are fantastic. It’s a fun hobby. They say that once you have three of something it’s a collection. So you have a collection of collections!
My recent Tafe assignment required multiple descriptors for sets of three… the thesaurus got a work-out but I managed to avoid three-some -because it was for a theoretical client- although it would’ve got a laugh ☺

Oh Dianne such fun it is looking through opp shops and vintage shops, my husband knows what I like and will often come back with some little gem for me. I love your collection he brought me home an ornate metal teapot the other day he paid $1 and was very chuffed with his purchase. You can find such treasures among someone else’s trash.

The display shelves came from the trophy cabinets that came with the RUC. They were the top part that we removed (because they looked a little silly in a normal ‘house’) and we used them to build shelves below the trophy cabinets – they look fantastic so I’m glad you noticed xxxx

Ok, first of all, I don’t know what an op shop even is, so I am assuming it’s like an antique mall over across on the other side of the planet?
And I just love the salt and pepper thingie!!
Pretty would love to have that threesome…
Have a great week, Dianne.

Haaaa – you’re right about the op shop. I should have explained – it’s a place where people take their old stuff and when you buy it the money is given to a charity. It’s short for Opportunity Shop (I think) e.g. St Vincent De Paul or Salvation Army 😉 The salt and pepper thingy is one of my favourites as well xxx

I have a set of 4 ceramic birds that sit high on a shelf in my kitchen, but every time I shut the cupboard below them too hard, the blue bird falls and another piece chips off him. So I fear soon I’ll have a set of three instead of four! 😄

Mine have broken so many times that hubby keeps telling me to chuck them away but I just keep super-glueing them back together again 😀 At one stage a bird flew in the house and knocked them off the wall – ironic! 😉

There’s something very appealing about things in threes. Two can be boring, but three is perfect. The Boulanger print is wonderful. If you have an original lithograph, it is certainly worth more than $10. It looks like the color may have faded so if you have it re-framed, you could consider protective glass to protect what’s left.

It actually looks much lighter in the photo (I’m not a good photographer) 😀 I’ve been thinking of having it re-framed because each lithograph has a number on it that I can’t find because it’s behind the frame. I’m so glad you like it – and you’re right about the number three, it is very appealing xxxx

I’m guessing that there’s a mystical quality to the ‘threesome’ you have going on there. It’s a natural inclination, so it must come from a universal place. And yes, three feels and looks…comfortable. I love these objects you’ve shown us here. And that last piece of art – oh la la – I think it’s worth something, even if not in $$$ , in the expressions of the women and the aura of friendship/togetherness it evokes.

Hubby was really surprised when I bought that picture because it’s nothing like the things I usually buy – but hey, I’m not one to stay the same over time 😉 I also have three children so even their photos on the wall makes things balanced 🙂

I posted about the ‘three-click rule’ on my other blog, that people won’t go beyond three clicks when pursuing something online. In researching that rule, I found out that sets of three are what lots (and lots) of people like. So, you’re on to something!

Oh yes – the creatures love them, especially the ducks on the wall that were knocked to the ground and smashed by a wayward bird one morning. I spent the day sticking them back together 😀 I’m sure the bird was trying to get them to fly off with it!

Hi – the three ladies on pushbikes does look like an original – I know you are busy – but when you get a chance – let us know if you had it appraised yet….
also – it is a fun action piece with friendship – so nice.